Africa-Press – Tanzania. A TOTAL of 288 inmates from Kagera Region benefited from amnesty granted by President John Magufuli on Wednesday that saw some prisoners having their sentences reduced and others walking free from prisons.
A total of 3,319 prisoners benefited from the presidential amnesty granted on Wednesday when Tanzania commemorated 59 years of independence through which some inmates were released from prison.
President Magufuli commuted death penalty on 256 convicts to life imprisonment, a move that was well-received by human rights activists and lawyers, including the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC).
The Head of State directed relevant authorities to start releasing the pardoned prisoners the following day.
“Most prisoners were serving jail terms over minor offences such as stealing of chickens, using abusive language against others, failure to hire good advocates and failure to pay fines,” he said.
The President warned the pardoned inmates against committing criminal offences as that would land them in jail again.
Kagera Regional Commissioner (RC), Brig-Gen Marco Gaguti, appealed to prisoners who were serving their sentences in prisons, but had benefited from the presidential amnesty to be good citizens and utilise the expertise they had acquired to be self-reliant. “We expect you to be good citizens and exemplary. Work hard and show respect to your leaders,” he said.
One of the pardoned prisoners, Ms Edina Joseph (31), who was serving 10 years for manslaughter on behalf of other inmates praised President Magufuli and promised to be a good citizen, given the hardships they were undergoing in prison.
“We are repentant and thank Dr Magufuli for his mercy. May God bless him,” she said as she hurriedly collected her belongings before boarding a bus for her home village in Ngara District.
Kagera Regional Prisons Officer (RPO) Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Samuel Mwakatika told the ‘Daily News’ that about 288 inmates had benefitted from the presidential pardon.
Out of the number, 236 inmates had their sentences reduced while 52 others were released yesterday. Beneficiaries include prisoners serving jail terms between one day and one year as well as those sentenced to serve many years, but had no more than one year left to complete their prison terms.
Mr Mwakatika said it was pleasing that the government was looking into a possibility of building new prisons and court buildings in the country. Steps have been taken to employ more judges and magistrates. The upshot, the government says, is to decongest some of the most populated penitentiaries.
He appealed to village leaders and members of the community to welcome the released inmates and assist them to start a new life.
